Walking over to a chair, Brian picked up a garment bag and held it out to Julie.
"Here. Put this on, you'll need to dress up where we're going."
"I'm not going anywhere with you." Julie said.
"You are a part of this now, Julie." Brian said, "You could've left while we were away, but you decided to remain. I wonder why." He looked over at Micky, then back to her. "Admit it, you're curious to see what happens now, aren't you? Now go put that on."
Without a word, Julie took the garment bag from Brian and left the lab. Brian turned to his assistants.
"Help me get the black box ready for another trip."
"Yes, sir." Clive, Gary and John replied.
Julie came back into the lab a few minutes later. She was now wearing a sleeveless black dress, gloves, shoes and matching purse.
Brian and his assistants were too busy to notice her, though, and she used this opportunity to put a few apples in her purse. Just as she closed up her purse, Brian noticed her and he smiled at her appreciatively.
"You look lovely, Julie." He said.
"Where are we going?" Julie asked, ignoring the compliment.
"The Paramount Theater in Los Angeles." Brian replied.
"I thought the Paramount was closed." Julie said.
Brian smiled again as he walked over to his Electro-Thought machine.
"Not anymore. Their debut at the Paramount is fixed: December seventh, nineteen fifty-six." Brian said.
"We're going into the past?" Julie asked.
"Yes we are, my dear." Brian said as he sat down on the bench, "We're going back to the beginning of Rock and Roll. This new and potent force is just what I need to brainwash the world!"
He began to play a few notes on his machine and a purple light enveloped the four tubes. Seconds later, the four Monkees were dressed in matching suits: black slacks, shoes and shirts and white jackets trimmed with wide silver lapels. A large silver letter `M' was embroidered on the front pocket of their jackets. Their hair was slicked back in the style of the nineteen-fifties.
"Don't they look smashing?" Brian laughed. "They look just like any other fifties' singing group-on the surface that is." He told John to raise the tubes. The Monkees simply stood there looking blankly at Brian.
"Now, everyone, into the black box." Brian commanded.
The four Monkees went inside first, then Clive, Gary and John. They carried a few boxes with them, plus the brightly-colored box with the on/off switch Brian had used on the Monkees earlier. Next Julie was escorted inside and finally Brian went inside last, shutting the door. Inside the box, the four colored lights in each corner began to blink on and off. The box shook a little, then all was quiet.
When the four lights stopped blinking, Brian opened the door once again and led the group out. They appeared to be in a large prop room.
"Here we are, backstage at the Paramount." Brian announced. He led the way out of the room and the group found themselves in a bustling environment, full of stagehands getting things ready for a show. A tall man in his thirties wearing a suit, obviously the theater manager, walked over to Brian.
"Oh, there you are, Mr. Auger." The man said, "I was beginning to worry where you were."
"I had just popped over to a hotel to pick up the main act for tonight, Mr. Clark." Brian replied. "May I present The Monkees." He gestured grandly with his hand toward the group. "Monkees, this is Dick Clark, the manager of the Paramount."
"Pleased to meet you gentlemen." Clark told them, but the Monkees just nodded their heads. The manager looked over at Brian questioningly.
"Oh, they don't want to strain their vocal chords before the performance, Mr. Clark." Brian smiled, "So they won't say much. But when it's time to perform, well..." Brian chuckled, "Anyway, you've already met Clive, so this is Gary and John. And may I introduce my special friend, Miss Julie Driscoll."
"Pleased to meet you, Miss Driscoll." Mr. Clark said.
"How do you do, Mr. Clark?" Julie asked politely.
"I'm very well, Miss Driscoll." Mr. Clark replied, "and you?"
"I'm fine." Julie smiled, but her eyes told a different story.
The manager looked back at Brian. "Well, the show starts in thirty minutes and there's a lot to be done yet, so if you'll excuse me?" He asked.
"Of course, go right ahead, I'll join you in a minute." Brian smiled as Mr. Clark walked away.
Brian turned to the group of people with him. "Yes, only thirty minutes before I start my plan to brainwash-and then takeover-the world!" He exclaimed.